Odyssey: Character Penelope
The Faithfulness of Penelope-And the Determination and Guile, Too!"How well Penelope kept within her heart her husband Odysseus!" (p.370) --The Odyssey, translated by Stanley Lombardo How well Penelope kept her husband within her heart, observed Homer, paying tribute to the most famous wife in Greek literature. And, a skillful reader might add, how well Penelope kept her head, too, given the trials she had to face, despite the Greek general Agamemnon's statement that the day of faithful wife was gone for ever (line 474). Agamemnon's dismissive view of female fidelity, even as embodied by Penelope, was somewhat understandable, given Agamemnon's knowledge that his own wife had been unfaithful to him, and was the instrument of his undoing with her lover's aid. Also, after so long away from home, as the result of a Trojan War that had been spawned by the unfaithfulness of Helen, it would perhaps only seem natural that the marital bond should seem suspect by the returning Greek generals like Odysseys. Penelope proved such a supposition wrong in her constancy, defying every expectation, even reasonable expectations that she might assume her husband was dead, as he was the last general to return alive from the stormy seas and
171)Of course, Penelope is at first taken aback, by the strength shown by her son when her son is "masterful" over her, when he resolves to seek word of his father. But Penelope skillfully unweaves her work at night, buying time until her ruse is discovered. However, the fact that she is surprised at his show of mastery indicates that Penelope has been accustomed to demonstrating some authority over the boy. This is further reflected in the witness and estimation of all of the other characters. Through this willingness to use cunning and to boldly lie to secure her own ends, Penelope shows that she is a fit and well-suited match for her absent husband, who is also often willing to use deceit to get his way, if he feels it is necessary. When Penelope prays to Athena, Odysseus' patron goddess, the goddess hears her prayer, just as surely as she hears the prayers of Penelope's husband. After Telemachus comes of age, her example of strength and vulnerability spurs the boy on to seek the council of Nester. He takes on his responsibilities and roles as a man, to become his father's and his mother's child. However, Penelope was not merely a faithful wife. Penelope had to protect the young boy instead. Odysseus does not always know his wife's value.
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